Unit 5 is considering increasing pay for substitute teachers as one way to address that growing need.… MORE
School choice supporters hope to change perception
School choice supporters are rallying across the country this week, focusing on President Trump and his new support of choice programs.… MORE
Business leaders say minor reforms aren’t worth large tax hikes
Parts of a potential budget agreement in Springfield include a number of pro-business incentives, but business advocates say they’re no consolation for massive tax hikes. … MORE
Illinois Medicaid faces uncertain future in light of Obamacare repeal
Repealing and replacing Obamacare isn’t a political discussion for the state of Illinois. It’s a budget discussion.… MORE
Sports On Air
Sports On Air… MORE
Rauner set to give State of the State address
Gov. Bruce Rauner will deliver his annual State of the State address on Wednesday.… MORE
SOS mailings may have ads
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White wants to offset the cost of sending out license plate renewal reminders.
… MORE
Illinois State Police warn of new phone scam
Illinois State Police is warning about a new phone scam.… MORE
Bloomington reconsidering west-side community house
Bloomington alderman plan to vote Monday on a proposed community house for the city’s police on West Jefferson Street.… MORE
Thunder salvage point in 10-round shootout loss
Ethan Somoza stretched his career-high point streak to six games with a goal and Tarek Baker struck for his team-leading sixth power-play tally of the year, but the Youngstown Phantoms outlasted Bloomington in a 10-round shootout to edge the Thunder, 3-2, on Sunday.… MORE
Blogs
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…